Similarly, Abraham was visited by Gabriel as well, who gave him the Black Stone. Abraham, along with Ishmael, built the Kaaba long before the Islamic faith came about.
Muhammad preached in Mecca, making no progress. He and his followers were berated and threatened over the next decade or so. They finally gave up, and Islam began on September 24, 622, when Muhammad and his followers moved to Medina. (Migration = Hijira)
Life became difficult for Muhammad so he raided caravans for money. The Meccans also did not like the success of Muhammad.
Three major battles took place from 625-628, between the Meccans and Muhammad and his followers.
Muhammad grew in power and in 628 a peace treaty between him and those who opposed him in Mecca was made.
Two different stories:
Broke the treaty, attacked and defeated an army of ten thousand men in Mecca.
Marched back from Medina to Mecca, with more and more tribes joining along the way. They entered Mecca, peacefully, and the Meccans finally joined the Muslims.
Muhammad became the religious and political leader of Arabia, and Mecca became the center of Islam.
The Holy Qur'an, Important Islamic literature
The Five Pillars of Islam
The foundations of support for Islamic belief and practice
Shahada is the profession of Muslim faith: "There is no God but God, and Muhammad is the Messenger of God." This means that Allah is the only God, and the prophet Muhammad is his only Messenger. Proclaiming and believing these words are the requirements of becoming a Muslim.
. Salah is Muslim prayer. Muslims pray 5 times a day to God. (Turning to the Kaaba)
Zakat is the act of alms giving. Muslims must give 2.5% of their money to the poor and those in need.
Sawm is the practice of fasting during the holy month of Ramadan from dawn until sundown from food and drink. This helps them to remember the poor and needy while developing self control, overcoming selfishness, greed, and laziness while becoming closer to God.
Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia (to see the Kaaba) is something that all Muslim must partake in if they can afford it and are able bodied in order to show obedience and love for Allah.
On average 2-3 million people visit the Mecca during Hajj. Mecca is located in Saudi Arabia and is the birth place of Muhammad and the site of the Kaaba, which is the cube-shaped building that is used as the Muslim direction of prayer. The Kaaba is located inside the mosque called Al-Masjid Al-Haram.
The first hajj was led by Muhammad from Medina to Mecca. He destroyed idols, cleansed the Kaaba, and proclaimed the building as the house of God. Ever since, Hajj has been a pillar of Islam.
Hajj takes place once a year during the 8th to 13th day of the lunar month of Dhu al-Hijjah
Male pilgrims wear a white garment called ihram. Females usually wear a white dress and headscarf. White is worn in order to be free from the status of upper or lower class, putting everyone on the same level. The material world is left behind and all one is left with is the white sheet on their back. While wearing ihram, one enters the state of ihram which includes refraining from hunting, fighting, or even trimming your fingernails or hair. In a state of ihram, energy must be devoted to spirituality.
During hajj, Muslims must perform a series of rituals such as walking counter clockwise seven times around the Kaaba and throwing rocks at a holy statue to symbolize their rejection of the temptation of the devil.
Ramadan: Ramadan occurs on the ninth month of the islamic calander and is observed by fasting for 30 days. This fasting takes place from dawn to sunset and other activites such as swearing, sex and smoking are restricted durnig this time. Ramadan is a period of spiritual reflection, and the fasting is to cleanse the soul and to develop empathy for those who are starving or less fourtunate. Children under the age of 13, and adults with serious health problems are excused from fasting.
Eid Al-Fitr This holiday is known as the "festival of breaking the fast." This celebration marks the end of Ramadan. This day is called the Eid and falls on the first day of the month Shawwal. The Eid is a designated day when Muslims can eat after fasting for 29-30 days. Muhammed, an Islamic prophet, practiced this tradition after migrating from the Mecca and inspired this holiday.
Eid Al-Adha: This holiday is the feast of sacrifice and is an honor to the prophet Abraham. Abrahams willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmeal (Isaac) for god is the inspiration for this holiday. It is not unordinary to sacrifice an animal for this holiday. This celebration takes place on the 12th day of Dhu Al-Hijjah. Prayers such as the Sunnah prayer of two rakats are commonly recited throughout this holiday.
How this Faith Divided Over the Course of Many Years
Muslim faith divides into the main two factions: The Muslim faith has divided into two main factions called the Sunnis and the Shiites. Both the Sunnis and the Shiites believe in the same basic faiths of Islam including the belief of one god, the five pillars of Islam, and all of the major prophets. This split occured in 632 A.D. when the leader of Islam Muhammed died. The Sunnis believed that their new Muslim leader should be chosen through the Muslim community, and the Shiites believed that their new Muslim leader should be one of Muhammed's decendents. This conflict caused the split.
Turkish flag and Islamic Symbol
Other branches of the muslim faith:
Ahmadiyya - Mizra Ghulam Ahmad created the Ahmadiyya version of Islam in 1989 in India. The Ahmadiyya muslims believe that Mizra was an improved, second reincarnation of Muhammed.
Druze - The Druze religion was established in 1017 in Cairo Egypt. A man named Darazi started this religion as a break-away from Islam. The Druze religion is considered a new interpretation of the three main monotheisitic religions, Islam, Christitanity, and Judaism.
Muslim Faith in Different Countries
Although Shia Islam is the minority, countries such as Iran, Pakistan, Iraq and India are prodominantly Shia. Iran alone acounts for 40% of the worlds total Shia population. Sunni's are commonly found in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Egypt, Indonesia, Turkey, and Morocco. Roughly 75% of the worlds total Islamic population practice Sunni Islam compared to the 15% who practice Shia Islam.
Country
Sunnis
Shiites & Offshoots
Afghanistan
84%
15%
Bahrain
30%
70%
Egypt
90%
1%
Iran
10%
89%
Iraq
32-37%
60-65%
Kuwait
60%
25%
Lebanon
23%
38%
Pakistan
77%
20%
Saudi Arabia
90%
10%
Syria
74%
16% (Alawites)
Turkey
83-93%
7-17%
United Arab Emirates
81%
15%
Yemen
70%
30%
Source: Congressional Research Service
Map comparing Sunni and Shia Islam, notice how Iran is heavily concentrated with Shia Islam
Who is Sunni and who is Shia in this novel?
In the Kite Runner, Hassan is a Shia and Amir is a Sunni. Hassan is a Hazara and generally Hazaras are Shia Islam however there are exceptions. Amir is a Pashtun and the majority of Pashtuns practice Sunni Islam.
Islamic Symbols
In early years, Islam was against recognizing anything as a "Holy Symbol".
Star and Crescent - Best known symbol related to Islam. Found on some flags of majorly Islamic countries. Muslims adopted this polytheistic symbol during the spread of Islam.
The color green - Used to represent it among other world religions. Some say it was Muhammad's favorite color, others say green represents vegetation and life. Found on some flags, mainly Saudi Arabia's.
3 Major Points
Muslims believe in Allah, the one and only God, and Muhammad is his messenger.
The Qu'ran is the sacred text of Islam, which the Muslim people use to follow the word of God.
Muslim Faith
Beginnings of Muslim Faith:
The Five Pillars of Islam
The foundations of support for Islamic belief and practicehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jM81wroj_MQ
Important Holidays
Ramadan: Ramadan occurs on the ninth month of the islamic calander and is observed by fasting for 30 days. This fasting takes place from dawn to sunset and other activites such as swearing, sex and smoking are restricted durnig this time. Ramadan is a period of spiritual reflection, and the fasting is to cleanse the soul and to develop empathy for those who are starving or less fourtunate. Children under the age of 13, and adults with serious health problems are excused from fasting.History of Ramadan:
http://www.history.com/videos/history-of-ramadan#history-of-ramadan
Eid Al-Fitr This holiday is known as the "festival of breaking the fast." This celebration marks the end of Ramadan. This day is called the Eid and falls on the first day of the month Shawwal. The Eid is a designated day when Muslims can eat after fasting for 29-30 days. Muhammed, an Islamic prophet, practiced this tradition after migrating from the Mecca and inspired this holiday.
Eid Al-Adha: This holiday is the feast of sacrifice and is an honor to the prophet Abraham. Abrahams willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmeal (Isaac) for god is the inspiration for this holiday. It is not unordinary to sacrifice an animal for this holiday. This celebration takes place on the 12th day of Dhu Al-Hijjah. Prayers such as the Sunnah prayer of two rakats are commonly recited throughout this holiday.
How this Faith Divided Over the Course of Many Years
Muslim faith divides into the main two factions:
The Muslim faith has divided into two main factions called the Sunnis and the Shiites. Both the Sunnis and the Shiites believe in the same basic faiths of Islam including the belief of one god, the five pillars of Islam, and all of the major prophets. This split occured in 632 A.D. when the leader of Islam Muhammed died. The Sunnis believed that their new Muslim leader should be chosen through the Muslim community, and the Shiites believed that their new Muslim leader should be one of Muhammed's decendents. This conflict caused the split.
Other branches of the muslim faith:
Ahmadiyya - Mizra Ghulam Ahmad created the Ahmadiyya version of Islam in 1989 in India. The Ahmadiyya muslims believe that Mizra was an improved, second reincarnation of Muhammed.
Druze - The Druze religion was established in 1017 in Cairo Egypt. A man named Darazi started this religion as a break-away from Islam. The Druze religion is considered a new interpretation of the three main monotheisitic religions, Islam, Christitanity, and Judaism.
Muslim Faith in Different Countries
Although Shia Islam is the minority, countries such as Iran, Pakistan, Iraq and India are prodominantly Shia. Iran alone acounts for 40% of the worlds total Shia population. Sunni's are commonly found in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Egypt, Indonesia, Turkey, and Morocco. Roughly 75% of the worlds total Islamic population practice Sunni Islam compared to the 15% who practice Shia Islam.Who is Sunni and who is Shia in this novel?
In the Kite Runner, Hassan is a Shia and Amir is a Sunni. Hassan is a Hazara and generally Hazaras are Shia Islam however there are exceptions. Amir is a Pashtun and the majority of Pashtuns practice Sunni Islam.Islamic Symbols
3 Major Points
Sources:
http://www.wabashcenter.wabash.edu/syllabi/r/robbins/1JM8Q-PHIL203/IslamBranches.html
http://focusonjerusalem.com/majorbranchesofislam.html
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Society_&_Culture/druze.html
http://islam.about.com/od/holidays/u/holidays.htm
http://www.pbs.org/muhammad/timeline_html.shtml